Despite brickbats, many will still vote for Pakatan, says poll

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): KajiData Research’s latest public opinion poll on Pakatan Harapan's popularity as it celebrates its first anniversary in power shows that it is still deemed the most viable coalition to rule the country compared with its predecessor Barisan Nasional.

The telephone survey involving 1007 respondents from different races, income, ages, states and gender found 40% of Malaysian voters still preferred Pakatan despite of the decline in its popularity, compared with Barisan (15%) and PAS (16 ).

Pakatan still has more support than Barisan and PAS combined.

Analysis of the study conducted to gauge the rakyat's mood towards Pakatan also revealed that 43% of high-income earners were satisfied with its management of the economy, but only 30% of low-income earners were similarly satisfied.

This disparity has a definite political impact, with low-income voters more likely to vote for the Barisan-PAS combination.

It is also a clear indication that the economic well-being of the rakyat is one of the most significant factors in determining political allegiance.

The study conducted from the end of March also found that Pakatan’s support was limited in Kelantan and Terengganu, another indication that rural and low-income communities were not fully convinced that the coalition is a better alternative.

However, the poll reveals that Pakatan has solid support in states that it governs.

The respondents in Sarawak too were optimistic of Pakatan.

The other KajiData findings on Pakatan’s first year in power resonate with findings from similar studies conducted by other outfits including Merdeka Centre and the YouGov survey commissioned by Star Media Group.

e) 42% believe that Malaysia is headed in the wrong direction versus 35% who think otherwise;

f) 39% are unhappy with Pakatan’s performance, only 37% are happy;

g) 43% are unhappy with Pakatan’s management of the economy and only 33% are happy;

h) 38% of youths prefer to vote for Barisan and PAS combined compared with 33% for Pakatan;

i) 38% of low-income voters prefer to vote for Barisan and PAS combined compared to 31% for Pakatan; and

j) Pakatan has little support in the Malay heartlands of Kelantan and Terengganu.

Established in 2015, KajiData Research specialises in market, commercial and socio-political intelligence by conducting and combining traditional public opinion polling methodologies as well as social media analyses. – Bernama